Chapter 3: Until our next Meeting

Merlina was currently drinking some ale, keeping a close eye on Kirby, Tiff, and Tuff as they washed dishes with their hands as punishment for tampering with her fireworks.

"We won't get in trouble, huh?" Tiff said in annoyance to her brother.

"Oh, shut it…" he muttered, not in the mood to talk.

Meanwhile, all the other Ordonians were shouting "Speech! Speech!" to Solomon with Yugi joining them, wanting for him to make a statement. Solomon gladly agreed as he stood on the podium to speak.

"My dear Mutos and Hershels!" he called out, a huge cheer went up. "Oersteds and Ebrums!" more people cheered."Marios! Yukis! Kurosakis! Ketchums! Elrics! Kamiyas! Takashis! Fudos! And Doofs!"

Max Goof seemed offended by this. "Hey, it's Goofs!" Solomon waves this aside as he continued.

"Today is my 141st birthday!" he called out.

"Happy Birthday!" they all yelled out.

"And I must say that a hundred years is too short a time to live with such excellent and admirable Ordonians!"

Everyone cheered, taking this as a compliment.

"I like half of you half as well as I should like and I like LESS than half of you half as well as you deserve!"

Nobody cheered at this, everyone was tense. "Yes, a hundred years is a long life…I've put this off for far too long..."

Merlina was beginning to look curious as Solomon snuck something into his hands.

"Sorry, but I have to admit that this is the end. I'm going to go away very soon... I bid you all a VERY fond farewell..." he continued. He then stared at Yugi, who was looking back at him in worry.

"Goodbye…" he whispered, and not a second later, he vanished into thin air.

Everyone began panicking,except for Merlina, who looked pretty mad. Someone ran towards Solomon's house and gently shut the door. Solomon then reappeared, looking satisfied. He held out the ring, which he used to turn invisible, flicked it into the air, caught it, and caught it again. He then took out some traveling equipment, getting ready to leave, until…

"I suppose you think that was terribly clever, Solomon." Merlina's voice caught him by surprise. She stood against the mantelpiece looking disturbed and irritated. She was waiting for Solomon to reply.

"Oh come on Merlina! Did you see their faces?" Solomon laughed, getting a backpack out and stuffing it with clothes and other belongings. Merlina sighed at this.

"There are many magic rings in this world, Solomon Muto, and NONE of them should be used lightly." Merlina scolded in a strict tone.

"It was just a bit of fun, really." he chuckled, but her glare made him give in. "Ah, you're probably right…as usual...you will keep an eye on Yugi, yes?"

"Two eyes, as often as I can spare them." Merlina said in a softer tone.

"I'm leaving everything to him." Solomon said as he packed his pipe.

"What about this ring of yours? Is it staying too?" the witch asked the man.

"Yes, along with everything else. It's in an envelope on the mantelpiece." He answered.

As Merlina began looking through the mantelpiece, Solomon then came clean.

"No, wait. It's…here in my pocket." He confessed as he held out his ring. Merlina turned to look at it, sensing something amiss.

"Now, isn't that odd?" Solomon chuckled. Suddenly, his voice then filled itself with greed. "But, why not? Why shouldn't I keep it?"

Merlina then returned her attention to Solomon. "I think you should leave the ring behind. Is that so difficult?"

Solomon flinched as he turned to Merlina, in his normal voice.

"Well, no..." Solomon then turned his attention to the ring and his voice returned to the greedy one."…and yes. In fact, I don't feel like parting with it! IT'S MINE! I FOUND IT! IT CAME TO ME!"

"There is no need to be angry." Merlina said, attempting to calm him down but without success.

"Well, if I'M angry, it's YOUR fault!" Solomon glared, but then returned his attention to the ring as his voice became a coo, smiling maliciously, his eyes turned dark and inhuman. "It's mine, my own…my preciousssss!"

The saying echoed in Merlina's head as she mulled it over in her head. "'Precious'? It's been called that before… but not by you." Merlina alleged, becoming more concerned.

"Argh! What business is it of yours of what I do with my own things?" Solomon snarled as he glared at the witch.

Merlina's voice remained calm, but not much of it. "I think you have had that ring for too many years."

"YOU JUST WANT IT FOR YOURSELF!" Solomon accused as he put his fists up.

"SOLOMON MUTO!" Merlina yelled, sending Solomon flying back against the wall. The room grew dark with Merlina's eyes glowing an ominous dark color, her hair flowing, and her voice towering like a storm, scaring Solomon.

"DO NOT TAKE ME FOR SOME CONJURER OF CHEAP TRICKS! I AM NOT TRYING TO ROB YOU!" Merlina roared. The room then went back to its quiet state as the sorceress calmed down, as she then spoke in a gentle tone "I'm trying to help you."

Solomon's attitude suddenly changed; he began to weep and came forward and embraced her, and Merlina bent down and rubbed his head in sympathy. "All these years, we've been friends." Merlina said softly. "Trust in me, as you always have. Let it go."

Solomon seemed to come to his senses, since he spoke in a calmer tone "You're right Merlina…the ring must go to Yugi…" he swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and gathered his things before heading out the door.

"The night is young and the road is long. It's time to get going." Solomon began to walk but was stopped by Merlina.

"Solomon. The ring's still in your pocket." She reminded him as she followed the man, eyeing him like a hawk.

Solomon laughed sheepishly as he pulled out the ring and looked at it. He shut his eyes and began to turn his hand slowly. After some strain, the Ring slid off from the palm of his hand. He sighed before heading out into the darkness. He halted and looked at Merlina, a saddened look on his face.

"I've thought of an ending for my book... 'And he lived happily ever after…until the end of his days'."

"And I'm sure you will, my dear friend." Merlina said as she came over and bent down so their eyes were linked. Solomon grinned as did Merlina.

"Goodbye, Merlina." Solomon said, holding his hand out.

"Goodbye, Solomon Muto." Merlina returned as she clasped both her hands in Solomon's, who smiled and then began his long trek.

"The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began…" he sang as he went out of the gate and into the growing darkness of night.

"Until our next meeting…" Merlina smiled as she watched her friend depart.